Jerry West hasn’t been the personality to mince words, and the former Los Angeles Lakers superstar weighed in on the modern-day NBA, calling it soft.
Speaking on the latest episode of Podcast P with Paul George, “I think a more difficult game to coach,” West said.
“It emphasizes a different kind of player. I think crowds have to get used to it. There are some nights I go and it’s hard for me to watch. In this sense, I’d rather see somebody make a beautiful pass, go in, and lay it up instead of four on-one, some guy runs behind the three-point line and shoots a three.”
He further added: “The game is soft that way today. I don’t like it. I don’t think it makes for pretty basketball. And I think, unless you have a great, great team late in the game, you’re gonna lose games, you’re taking points off the board.”
[Starts 3:26 onwards]
West was speaking of the advent of the three-point line and how shooting from beyond the arc has revolutionized the sport. The likes of Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard have further made sharpshooting their most relied-upon weapon in their arsenal.
Except, ‘The Logo’ isn’t a fan, as he prefers the old-fashioned way of making layups — whether it’s with flamboyance or barreling all the way to the rim. And in his typical way, he just called it soft.
How Has Three-Point Shooting Changed The NBA?
Three-pointers were introduced in 1979 in the Association, but they were indeed a regular in the ABA. According to The Miami News, then-ABA commissioner George Mikan believed the 3-pointer would “give the smaller player a chance to score and open up the defense to make the game more enjoyable to fans”.
Now, the shot is the most fundamental in the league — and one that’s had hearts either soaring or broken.
Per Bleacher Report’s Stephen Babb: “A strong three-point attack is the gateway to everything else good offenses do. The mere existence of a three-point threat opens lanes for penetration, creates room for operating in the post, and forces defenders into difficult choices between remaining glued to their assignments and helping on the ball.”
Clearly, the teams in today’s league have based their own X and O’s based on their shooting impact from downtown, and that makes the difference between making the playoffs and winning the title. So, to call the shot a boon and a bane wouldn’t be a mistake.
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